Grapelive Daily Pick
By Kerry Winslow
***
2007 Stolpman Syrah Estate, Santa Ynez Valley.
This is a big brooding monster at the moment and I hope it will settle into a complex and balanced wine, given some more time in bottle. Stolpman has been turning out fine Syrah for many years and the 2005 Stolpman Hilltops was one of my favorite Syrahs of the vintage, and the 2007 could be that good, but it is just too much a savage wine at the moment, even though it has everything in spades to be great. It has fruit, spice, chocolate, earth, game and tannic power with a palate of blueberry compote, blackberry, cassis, mocha, wild meat, smoke, liqueur and peppery notes. The wine is thick and richly dark as well, that of course will impress many a wine drinker on its own, I just hope the wine will come together and that the tannins will resolve, giving an elegance or smoother feel. Potential is there and I can’t wait to revisit this wine in a year or so.
($30 Est.) 90 Points, grapelive
***